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“Huh.” Grace shrugged. “No. Just a rush of…” She replaced the word ‘Panic’ with a vague gesture. Then, too tired to argue, took the fresh glass of water still on offer. “Thank you for this.”

“Of course.”

“So.” She breathed in deeply. “About the contract.”

Grace went through the details and then checked her incoming messages. These were all reports or questions from staff attached to different projects. She answered them easily. There was a long rambling email from her sister, complaining that Jeremy was annoying the hell out of her at the resort. She composed a sharp reply.‘Annoying you? How specifically?’Then stabbed theSENDkey.

“And how is it my problem? How old are you all, really?”

Sitting back to consider, she realized that her response was probably unnecessarily harsh and sarcastic. Sighing, she wrote another one.

‘Chloe: if he gets in the way of anything we agreed on, remind him that it’s in the contract he signed. He can’t oppose any of it now. If it’s something else, and I can help to resolve the issue, let me know. I can kick his ass equally well on the phone or in person.’

Three seconds later, a reply landed.

‘LOL,’it read, which made her eyebrow twitch.‘Something in the contract, yes. I’ll handle it myself. Thanks for thereminder. Just needed to get it out of my system. XO’

Kisses on official emails? LOL? Feeling both annoyed and perplexed, Grace pressed her intercom button. “Libby.”

“Yes, Ms. Michaels. I’m not quite finished with the contract yet.”

“That’s fine. I just need you back in here a minute.”

Libby walked in two seconds later, prompt as ever, armed with the iPad she always used to take notes.

“Ms. Michaels.” She sounded nervous. “If this is about the interruption earlier, I am terribly sorry...”

Grace waved that off. “Have a seat, please. Glass of wine?”

“Uh… I…” Libby’s eyebrows hit the ceiling in amazement, just before her expression shifted to utter devastation.

“What’s the matter?” Grace frowned.

“You’re going to fire me. Please, don’t. I’m—”

“Christ! Relax, will you? Of course, I am not going to fire you!” Grace secured a glass of wine in her hand and fixed her with a stern gaze. “Though this answers one of my questions, at least. You think I’m a bitch; don’t you?”

Libby’s jaw now hit the floor to match her raised eyebrows in utter perplexity.

“No, no,” she protested. “I… I would never…”

“I’m a big girl, Libby. I can take it. Tell me the truth. I want feedback.”

“Ms. Michaels, I do not believe you are a… A bitch,” Libby assured her.

“Hmm.” Grace tilted her head and jerked her chin in more challenge. “How about arrogant? You think I’m too cocky?”

Libby took a deep breath, a sip of her wine, and a moment to adjust her glasses. Steadier now, she nodded. “I think you are excellent at your job. At the very top of your game. And a bit of agenius all-round, actually.”

Grace crossed her arms over her chest. Yeah.Well.“I won’t argue with that.” Her dry ironic tone had her assistant smiling.Finally!“What else?”

“You do not suffer fools gladly,” Libby added.

“Anyone who does is a fool themselves. No?”

“Yes, I agree. You are also very demanding, of yourself and the people you work with. You never cut corners, always strive for excellence. Operating at such a high level, with low tolerance for mediocrity, will make some people think of you as arrogant, aloof, bossy, pretentious, cold, and domineering. In summary, a bitch, yes.”

Grace watched her in silence.You asked for feedback, right? So now take it.